Do Hemorrhoids Go Away on Their Own?

Hemorrhoids are among the least talked conditions yet they affect so many people. What are they? Do they go away on their own?

What are hemorrhoids?

Also known as piles, hemorrhoids are swollen or inflamed veins, usually in the anus or lower rectum. They normally develop as a result of exerting too much pressure during bowel movements. The increase in pressure on these delicate veins explains why some women develop them during their pregnancy. You may develop external or internal hemorrhoids. They cause discomfort to the affected person and many people try different things so as to get some relief. Some others simply wait hoping that it to go away on its own. This begs the question, do hemorrhoids go away on their own? Keep reading if you want to get answer to this question.

Do hemorrhoids go away on their own?

It’s unfortunate to note that hemorrhoids will not go away on their own without the use of any of the available treatment options. Thus, there are many different factors that can aggravate the condition. These include infection of rectum, pregnancy, overuse of laxatives, constipation, heredity factors, poor diet, frequent diarrhea, and sitting for long periods.

Types of hemorrhoids:

There are two main types of hemorrhoids. These are external and internal hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids, as the name suggests, are found on the external part of the anus, just under the skin and can easily be felt during physical examination. They can cause intense pain, itching, and bleeding at times. On the other hand, internal hemorrhoids are found on the inside part of the anus and cannot be seen during physical examination. If not treated, they will push through the anus and become external hemorrhoids.

Do hemorrhoids go away on their own?

The straight answer to this is, no they don’t. You should seek treatment if you suffer from hemorrhoids. You are likely to suffer from them for as long as they are not treated.

How long do hemorrhoids last?

There is no single direct answer to this question. In some people, the symptoms will begin easing after some few weeks while in others the symptoms remain the same and in others they keep getting worse. If not treated, the condition may worsen to the extent of requiring surgical treatment. Because there is always some degree of pressure exerted on the veins during normal bowel movements, the tenderness, itching and pain is likely to persist.

The foregoing notwithstanding, there are different factors which can contribute to the healing. These include the following:-

Small external or internal hemorrhoids can heal within one week to one month. However, large internal hemorrhoids can take several of months for any improvement to happen.

Hemorrhoids are likely to heal faster if it’s the first time you’re experiencing them. Recurrent hemorrhoids are likely to take longer to heal.

If you developed hemorrhoids as a result of pregnancy, they may not heal until the pregnancy is over.

How are hemorrhoids treated?

Now you know that the answer to the question do hemorrhoids go away on their own is a No. you may be looking for information about treatment of the condition. Here below are some tips on how to go about it.

Homeopathy treatments for hemorrhoids:

To reduce inflammation, sit in a tub filled with warm water. Sit on this water for about 20 minutes, three times every day.

Take diets rich in fiber and drink plenty of water. Constipation can worsen the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Diet high in fiber and taking plenty of water will help avoid constipation, which can increase pressure on the veins in the rectum and in effect increase the bleeding, swelling and discomfort.

Use stool softeners to reduce pain and discomfort during bowel movements. However, even loose or liquid stools can still cause infection and further inflammation and pain of the anus.

Do not sit for long. Sitting for extended period increases pressure on the veins of the anus. Ensure that you exercise regularly and remain active so as to improve the circulation of blood and relieve constipation. Ensure that you go for bowel movements immediately you feel the urge. Delaying bowel movements will cause pressure on the veins around the anus and worsen the symptoms of hemorrhoids.

Try over the counter medications such as suppositories and creams for relief of pain. Remember that these won’t cure the hemorrhoids but will numb the area and may only decrease the inflammation and swelling.

When you finally get the answer to the question, do hemorrhoids go away on their own is nay in your case, you should then consider medical treatment procedures. There are several medical treatment options available. These include the following:-

Medication:

Use of over the counter ointments and creams may help but, if hemorrhoids are severe, you need creams which contain ingredients such as witch hazel and hydrocortisone. Avoid using over the counter creams for period extending more than one week. Prolonged use of these creams can cause various side effects such as skin thinning, skin rash, and inflammation.

Minimally invasive procedures:

In some cases, blood clot can form in the external hemorrhoids, and can be easily removed by a simple incision. If the hemorrhoids are painful, the doctor may opt to perform procedures which are minimally invasive such as coagulation, scleropathy and rubberband which respectively involve the use of laser or infrared light, injection of chemical to shrink the hemorrhoid, and use of tiny rubber bands to cut off blood supply to hemorrhoid and cause it to wither.

Surgical procedures:

In some cases, the only option available for treating hemorrhoids is surgical procedure. The common surgical procedures are hemorrhoidectomy, which removes excess tissue which may cause hemorrhoidal bleeding; and hemorrhoid stapling, a surgical procedure used to block flow of blood in to the hemorrhoidal tissue.

Each of these surgical procedures has side effects and risks which include urinary tract infections in case of hemorrhoidectomy and rectal relapses in the case of hemorrhoid stapling.